Platform foot and body vibrator



Jan. 27, 1942.

R. W. WORTHINGTON PLATFORM FOOT AND BODY VIBRATOR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1959 1942- R. w. WORTHINGTON 2,271,332

PLATFORM FOOT AND BODY VIBRATOR Filed May 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BYfidM (4A 742x1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,271,382

PLATFORM FOO!1 AND BODY VIBRATOR Ray W. Worthington, Los Angeles, Calif.

- Application May 6, 1939, Serial'No. 272,194

1 Claim.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus in which provision ismade for producing a rapid vibration and applying, this vibration to aplatform adapted to have placed thereon the feet of a person with theobject of increasing the circulation of blood and also to greatlystimulate the nervous system of the person using this apparatus. Thentoo, it revitalizes tired aching feet and relaxes the entire body andmuscles.

Provision is made for setting the machine in operation by a coincontrolled electrical circuit. Further provision is made whereby thepatient can regulate the intensity or speed of the vibration at will.Also, the intensity is very greatly increased by means of a rectifiertube in the electrical circuit. My invention also includes a diagram ofthe human nerve system arranged to be visible to the patient while he isusing this apparatus and means whereby apparent motion can beimparted tothis diagram giving it theappearance of nerve currents in action.

I accomplish these objects by means of the mechanical and electricalapparatus illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similarnumerals refer to similar parts in the several views. Figure 1 is aperspective view showing a type of my invention having a platformonwhich the patient stands while taking treatment, and also showing thediagram of the nervous system facing him as he stands on the platform.The coin slot and the control are shown at the top of the column. Figure2 is a modified type of my invention provided with a seat but having thesame apparatus and platform on which the patient places his feet. Figure3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one method of placing thecontrol mechanism in the arrangement of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a verticalcentral section of the type shown in Figure 1, part of the apparatusbeing shown diagrammatically. Figure 5 is a top plan view of theplatform assembly with the cover or platform itself removed. Figure 6 isa diagrammatic view of the electrical and mechanical construction of thevarious elements. Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail of the coin actuatedmechanism.

The construction and operation of my device is as follows: The numeral Irepresenting a hollow base casting, having mounted therein a hollowvibrator coil 2, this coil having a pair of armatures 3 and SI, theupper armature 3 being supported on the coiled springs 4 by means of theplate extensions 3a, these armatures having opposed flanges 3b and 6abetween which are interposed the rubber buffers or snubbers 5 to protectthese elements from injury during the vibration of the armature 3 whichwould result if the flanges 3b of armature 3 came into actual contactwith the flanges 6a of armature 6. Secured tothe upper armature 3 is aplatform I which is further supported by the coiled springs 8. Thecoiled springs 4 and the coiled springs 8 being separated as shown serveto equalize the pressure under the platform I so that it will not tilteasily when stepped upon. Suitable electrical connections 41 and 49,leading to'otherparts of the device, are made to the hollow vibratorcoil2, which coil 2 is held in place by the clamp members l l ,as shown inFigure 5.

At the back of the hollow base I and in a position facing a personstanding on the vibrator platform 1 and integral with or securedto saidbase casting l: is a hollow column [2. This column I2 is provided with aremovable door 13 at the back of the said column, the front of thecolumn having an opening l4 adapted to receive a panel suitable to carryinstructions and advertising matter. One method of utilizing thispanelopening 14 is to have a card or metal having perforated therethrough anoutline of the human body showing the lines and ganglia of the nervoussystem, or in a similar manner showing the arteries and veins of thecirculatory system. Means are also provided for illuminating this bodydiagram IS in such a manner as to cause apparent animation of the saidbody diagram. This feature will be more fully described hereinafter.

Secured to the upper part of the column [2 is a hollow cover I1 adaptedto contain a rheostat l8 and having on its outer face a knob [9 by whichthe user can vary the intensity of the vibration.

The cover I! is also provided with a slot and chute 20suitable toreceive a coin 2i. 1

The coin control mechanism is as follows: 22

is an electric motor having a pinion 23 and a gear 24, arranged toproduce very slow motion. Secured to the gear 24 is a cam 25 having onits periphery a notch 26. Mounted on said motor 22 but insulatedtherefrom is a lever arm 2'1 pivoted at 28 and having on its endadjacent to the said cam 25 a finger 3| adapted to ride on said cam andalso adapted to drop into the notch 26. A suitable electric lead wire 29connects the source of electrical power with one of the terminals 32 ofthe motor 22. Another connecting electric wire leads to a contact plate33. A third electrical connection 34 is made between the lever 21 andthe other terminal 35 of the motor 22.

The operation of this coin control mechanism is as follows: A coin 2|having been dropped into the slot and chute will roll down until itrests on the short end of the lever 21, the weight of the coindepressing the lever 21 until it contacts the plate 33, completing theelectric circuit through the lever 21 and the connection 34 to the othermotor terminal 35. After depressing the short end of the lever 21 thecoin 2| passes'by gravity out of the chute 20 and downwardly over theend of the lever 21 into the coin box 36. It Will be understood that thecoin strikes the end of the lever 21 and presses it into contact withthe point below that it pauses only momentarily and then rolls into thebox 36. The

depression of the short end of the lever 21 raises circle the finger 3|drops into the notch 26, lift-. ing the short end of the lever 21, thusbreakingthe connection and stopping the motor.

The intensity control mechanism consists of the rheostat l8 with itsknob and indicator l9 outside of the upper chamber I! and having mountedon its shaft a ratchet 43 and an escapement lever 4| having a tooth 44adapted to engage the ratchet 43. This rheostat I8 is also provided witha coil spring 42 which automatically returns the rhesotat to a zeroposition when the current is out off. When the current is on, the magnet39 is energized by the current through the wires 38 and 38--a, and assoon as the current is cut off by the lever 21 opening the electricalcircuit, the escapement lever 4| is drawn upwardly by means of thespring out of engagement with the ratchet 43, which is then returned tozero by the spring 42. The ma chine then remains inoperative untilanother coin is placed in the slot and chute.

For the purpose of obtaining a more desirable.

frequency of vibratory action through the vibratory coil 2 a Tungarrectifier tube 45is used for passing half wave impulses of currentthrough said vibratory coil. Atransformer 46 is used in connection withthis rectifier tube 45. The primary of the transformer 46 is connectedto the AC circuit wires 30 and 41, the secondary of the transformer 46being connected to the filament terminals of the rectifier tube 45, thecatham ze nervous system or the circulatory system. This plate is heldstationary in position back of the column opening l4. Back of thisstationary plate 50 is a moving plate 5| which is provided with a greatnumber of very small openings 52. This plate 5| is pivoted and suspendedat its upper end 53, being given an oscillatory movement by means of thecopper disc motor 54. This copper disc motor 54 consists of two magnets55 having a disc armature 56 which is geared down to very slow motion bythe pinion 51. The gears 58 actuate the crank disc 59, the crank pin ofwhich is connected to the moving plate 5|, this motor being operated byelectrical current through the wires 3|] and 60. Behind the plates 50and 5| is an electric light bulb 6| which is supplied with current bymeans of the wires 62 and 63.

In the form illustrated by Figures 2 and 3 a seat 64 supported by thesprings 65 is provided to enable the patient to. have vibratory foottreatment While comfortably seated. In this type all of the mechanismshown and described in the other views is contained in the case 66 withthe exception of the animated body diagram.

It will be understood that many variations, in the detailed constructionand operation may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Ina platform foot and body vibrator comprising a base, a hollow vibratorcoil located in said base, means for, holding said vibrator coil in afixed location, a pair of armatures on either side of said vibrator coilone of which is freely movable, said freely movable armature having a,plate extension, core, pieces on said, armatures inside the said coil, aplatform secured to said freely movable armature and forming a topsurface on which a person may stand, the other, of said armatures beingsecured to the inside of said base, two sets of coiled compressionsprings located on the inside of said base and resting on the bottomthereof, the tops of one set of said springs bearing directly on theunderside of said platform, and the tops; of the other set of springsbearing on the under side of said plate extension onsaid freely movablearmature, said springs being of sufiicient resistance to support aperson without flexure when standing on said platform, opposed fiangesonsaid armaturesoutside of. said vibratory. coil and having buffersbetween their faces, an electric circuit and a rectifier tube forpassing half wave impulses of current through said vibratory coil, and.a coin controlled switch for closing said circuitto start the operationof said vibrator.

RAY W. WORTHINGTON.

